A few years ago, grainy clips began circulating online, showcasing a remarkably talented young surfer launching impressive aerial maneuvers in a wave pool. The question on everyone’s mind was simple: who is this kid? Now, at 14 years aged, Patti Zhou has become a name familiar to those following the progression of surfing and snowboarding. A new profile video from Sun Bum dives deeper into the story of this dual-sport athlete, who was named after punk icon Patti Smith.
Zhou isn’t just making waves – or catching air – in one discipline. She’s a rising star in both snowboarding and surfing, with ambitions that extend to the Olympic stage. “I see myself going to the Olympics in snowboarding but after snowboarding I’ll try to receive there in surfing as well. Try to get a title or something,” Zhou told Olympics.com. She describes a surprising connection between the two sports, noting, “Surfing and snowboarding feel very alike; you can fly, and the sensation of flying is amazing. For me, the similarity between these two sports is that I can communicate with nature through them. Surfing is about communicating with the ocean, and snowboarding is about connecting with the mountains.”
Her talent hasn’t gone unnoticed by established professionals. Surfing legend Mason Ho, after sharing sessions with Zhou in Japan, expressed his admiration. “The reason I wanted to head surf with her, was because I heard she’s Chinese,” Ho said in the Sun Bum video. “I’m Chinese from my dad’s side. We grew up with so much respect. To be with Patti, there’s that saying, ‘real recognize real.’ I just wanna ride with her. I know we could level each other up.”
Ho further described Zhou as a “hybrid,” recalling his initial impression of her skills. “The first time I ever really seen or heard anything of Patti was a video on Instagram. Patti was flying through the air. I was like, ‘the world is getting crazy.’ She was doing some airs that I was like, ‘I wouldn’t mind doing that air myself.’ Then, right after, I saw a clip of her snowboarding.”
Zhou first gained viral attention at age 10 for her impressive wave pool performances, leading some to believe she represented a new generation of surfers who might not require the ocean to hone their skills, according to Stab Magazine. Although, a film by Sun Bum, “In The Air,” reveals that her surfing journey actually began in the ocean. She recounted a story of her coach pushing her into a 10-foot wave at age seven, a moment that startled onlookers on the beach, as reported by Stab Magazine.
The young athlete’s accomplishments extend beyond wave pools and snowboarding parks. At just 11 years old, Patti Zhou became the youngest-ever medalist on the Winter Dew Tour, as noted in Sun Bum’s “In The Air” blog post and Sun Bum Canada’s blog post. She similarly competed at Stab High Japan, where she impressed with her skill and personality, reportedly offering to buy her coach tequila with her winnings.
Born in Beijing, Zhou’s success is part of a broader trend of Chinese athletes excelling in winter sports, inspired by figures like Su Yiming and Gu Ailing, according to a 2023 profile in the Colorado Sun. She currently trains in Colorado and is sponsored by brands including Burton, Oakley, Woodward Copper, and Sun Bum.
As Patti Zhou continues to defy expectations in both snowboarding and surfing, the sporting world will be watching to see what she accomplishes next. Her unique blend of talent, dedication, and a clear connection to both mountain and ocean environments positions her as a compelling athlete to follow.
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